Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1887-08-25
Public Interest in the Oil
Question Intense.
SILLY RUMoRs. WITHOUT
FOUNDATION, CURRENT
ON EVERY CORNER.
The Whole Matter Summed up, to
be Taken For What it is
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Good.


tainly not in the history Of Mexico,
has there been so much interest
taken in something about which no.
body knows anything, as in the gas
well of this city. If there is any oil
or gas at the bottom of the hole
bored on Flat Rock, no one knows
anything about it, except, possibly,
those Immediately connected with the
workings at the derrick. The gen.
tlemen in charge of the VIC have
never made positive assertion that
gas had already been struck in any
quantity worth mentioning; in fact,
the smell noticed In the sand pump
was the only indication of its dis
covery. Rumors are rife all over the
city as to the existence of gas or oil
at the bottom of the hole, which is
now filled to the brim with water.
On one corner it is learned that the
hole has been sealed up by the Min
ing company directors, while block
further down the street, the reporter
strikes bunch of men who say that
Wolf is just dallying along, giving
outsiders a chance to buy up all the
little stockholders and make big
leases before he shuts off the water
and plunges the drill into cavern of
natural gas. All this is silly talk,
however, and after careful investi.
CATION the LEDGER can say that if
there is any certain indication of the
discovery of oil or gas in the Flat
Rock well in the immediate future,
thaS fact is unknown to the directory
of the company or to the drill men
themselves. All the rumors and sem
sational stories now in circulation are
the result of the lease-taking by the
Barre boys, who are here represent
ing
PENNSYLVANIA CAPITALISTS.
MIR. William Barre, the heavy
stockholder in the Mining Company.
is firm in his belief that oil and gas
exists in this locality, and proposes
to he one of a company to put down
several holes and test the matter. or
course it would be out of the aues-
tion for these gentlemen to come
here, spend large sum of money in
experimenting and then have no land
leased in their names should any
thing of value be struck.
THE INDICATIONS ARE GOOD
for strong flow of gas even at the
hole now being sunk. Though no
drilling has been done for two weeks,
MIR. Wolf and his men are doing their
best to push their work to compile
ton. To-day efforts have been made
to remove the casing, which is fast
in the well. When this is done drill
ing will be resumed, and the gas, if
any exists, developed. A test made
by leading scientific gentleman of
this city shows that oil undoubtedly
exists here, but in what quantities is
not known.
1t Is not generally know that leases
we're taken by the new company in
June from Lafe Newkirk, south, and
John w. Beatty, north of this city,
but at that time no excitement was
caused, and the matter was not made
public. Whatever may be the opin-
ion of the public in regard to the
matter, the new company will sink
at once test holes in or near Mexico
for oil or gas if enough land can be
leased.
STOCK WAY ABOVE PAR.
Tue excitement on the streets has
had the effect of making stockholders
in the Mining Company freeze TO their
shares in the concern, or place them
on the market away above par. Sew
eral actual transactions were made
this morning and in on case two
shares sold for exactly double the
par value, $50. Though the dis.
covery Of gas at the well now being
bored is matter of some doubt, the
indications are excellent and those
who bought stock or options on the
shares may not have cause to regret
it.